Improvement in bustles



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EAEEON DAVIs, OE BROOKLYN, AssIGNoE To OsEOEN a VINOENT, OE NEW YOEII, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUSTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 25,865, dated October 18, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARRON' DAVIs, of Brooklyn, State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Skirt-Bustle; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, and of its construction and mode Or manner of operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of Vreference marked thereon, making a part of this speciiication'.

Figure l is a front perspective view, and Fig. 2 is a rearv perspective view, of my improvement.

The particular nature land character of my improvement consists in giving to the bustle both a front and back support on the body, so that the bustle is retained in proper position, and prevented from sagging or drooping, as is usually the case, and also in making it easier and more agreeable to the wearer. The waistband A is made the size or about the size of the wearer, and is so shaped as to extend downward, both in front and behind, and form the points or parts B O. Such waistband and its extensions are usually made in two parts or halves, and is intended to be laced both in front and behind, the lacing behind being more particularly designed to adjust the bustle to different forms, or Vto any variations in the same form. Only the lacing in front will generally be used for the purposes of putting on and taking OH the article and for like uses. The points or extensions B and O are fitted with st-ays or braces a b, so that they will be naturally kept close to and extended upon the form. To the part B, which extends downward on the front side of the wearer, are fixed the hoops c d e f, 8vo., of varying or increasing diameters or sizes, and which constitute the bustle. Such hoops are firmly and strongly fastened or riveted to the stays or braces a a at the points of intersection l 2 3, Sto., so that they are prevented from being thrown out in front by pressure or weight resting on them behind. Such hoops are also stayed and supported from the waistband A by means of the tapes or bands g g,

Vwhich pass on each side of such hoops, and

are securely fastened thereto. In order, however, more eftectually to keep the lower extremity of the front point, B, close down against the form, and thus prevent the hoops at the back sagging or drooping, the waistband has given to it the back extension or point, O, which receives to a Very great degree any pressure that may rest upon the hoops behind, and thus acts directly as asnpport to the hoops, and also at the same time as a brace or stay to keep the pointB close to the form, and thus indirectly gives also support to the hoops, as such hoops cannot, from their manner of connection with the stays a a in the part B, sag or droop without throwing such part B more or less away from the body. It' the bustle had but the one point or eXtension B, its only power of resisting the pressure upon the hoops, and of sustaining them in their proper position. would lie in the iniiexibility Ot' the stays or braces a a, whereas by the application and use of the hack point or extension, O, the points of resistance and support are increased, and the hoops are more completely protected from drooping by means of pressure upon them, and the whole bustle preserves a more desirable shape, and is rendered easier for the wearer. It', also, but the one point B was made use of any pressure upon the hoops would not only throw out the lower extremity of B, but would at the same time press the upper end of B so much against the body of the wearer as to render the use of the article almost insupportable, while all such objection and discomfort is prevented by fthe use of a projection at the back. The article may also be made and used separate and distinct from the skirt; or the two may be conibined together.

Vhat I claim is- The attaching the hoops c d e, Snc., to the extension B by fixed and immovable connections, so that the hoops cannot be thrown forward or outward, when the hoops are connected to the band A by means ot' the crossbands g g, in combination with the back point or extension, O, as and for the purposes set forth.

BARRON DAVIS.

Vitnesses:

J As. S. HEATH, S. D. LANE. 

